John Kuntz / The Plain DealerJ.J. Hickson (left) and Shaquille O'Neal get entangled in keeping this rebound away from Washington's Fabricio Oberto during the third quarter of Wednesday's 121-98 Cavaliers victory at The Q.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It was fun while it lasted, but this is a rivalry that looks like it has bled out.

That isn't speculation or a stretch. It was plainly obvious Wednesday night at The Q as the Cavs smashed their long-standing adversaries, 121-98. Don't take the score or the body language of the two teams as evidence, just listen to LeBron James.

With former heart and soul leader Gilbert Arenas not in the building and maybe never again in a Wizards uniform and other stars certain to be on the trading block, James pronounced the feud over.

"Tonight was nothing personal with Washington at all," said James, a statement that would have seemed blasphemous during the teams' three-year run of playoff meetings. "I think it is over and done with."

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerWith a chance to watch the entire fourth quarter from the bench Wednesday, LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal found plenty in the Cavaliers' play to entertain themselves.

James might as well have been referring to the Wizards, who now face an uncertain future after NBA Commissioner David Stern stunned them by suspending Arenas indefinitely before the game for having and displaying guns in team's locker room three weeks ago. The Wizards (11-22) played in a haze, on the second night of a back-to-back and perhaps at the end of their run with their so-called big three of Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler.

One thing is certain, the season series is over.

Meanwhile, the Cavs (28-9), playing with rest and after a contact practice on their longest period at home since before Thanksgiving, looked rested and strong. With strong opinions, too.

"People asked me what I thought would happen [with Arenas] and it was exactly what happened," James said. "I didn't know it would be that extreme, but I thought he'd probably get suspended indefinitely.

"I know Gil loves the game of basketball and for the game to be taken away from you is tough. But you've got to use better judgment sometimes."

That was all the venom there was in this one, certainly a departure from a normal Wizards-Cavs affair. The Wizards usually always get up to play in Cleveland, no matter who is in uniform. But they played as if they were just fulfilling contractual duties, especially at the defensive end.

Not even DeShawn Stevenson could muster waving his hand in front of his face when he made a jumper. The fans sensed it, they didn't even boo much. Even those new to these games could tell something was amiss.

"With or without all their players we can beat this team any time if we do everything right," said Shaquille O'Neal without a hint of arrogance.

It is understandable why O'Neal feels that way. When he's played against the Wizards this season the Cavs have won with ease. In the first meeting in November he had a season-high 21 points and the Cavs won by 12. He didn't play in the lone visit to Washington, which the Cavs lost by 18.

This time he was able to get freed up for open looks as the Cavs attacked on offense, a product of having some practice time. He scored 16 of his 17 points in the first half and finished 6-of-9 from the floor. He was just one of six Cavs in double figures as they shot 57 percent against the Wizards' soft defense and got a season high in points.

James had 23 points with seven rebounds and eight assists and was able to sit out the fourth quarter. Anthony Parker set a season high with 16 points, hitting on 4-of-5 3-point attempts and the Cavs tied their season high with 11 3-pointers overall.

Both Anderson Varejao and Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 12 points and eight rebounds off the bench and Delonte West was excellent running the offense, scoring 14 points with six assists. Add Jawad Williams, who had a season-high seven points in place of the injured Jamario Moon, and the bench scored a season-high 50 points.

For the first time since April 6, 2002, they breached the 100-point barrier in the third quarter.

Washington was led by Jamison, who had 26 points, 18 in the third quarter. A lethargic Butler had just eight points. Arenas, of course, had none.

"Gil is an All-Star and he can hurt you in many different ways," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "That's part of the business, just like anybody else they have to figure out how to win and we don't care who is in front of us."

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